Trump, Putin Hold Hour-Long 'Extremely Frank' Call as Envoys' Kyiv-Moscow Trip Ends Without Breakthrough

September 8, 2026 — President Trump and President Putin held an hour-long phone call, described by Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov as 'constructive and quite frank,' a day after US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner concluded their Moscow-Kyiv shuttle trip without a signed agreement. Ushakov said the two leaders conducted 'an objective and thorough analysis' of the envoys' visits and that Trump conveyed a desire for 'an early end to the conflict,' pitching the 'enormous benefits' of restoring US-Russian trade and economic ties as an incentive. Putin maintained Russia's core demand — full Ukrainian withdrawal from the Ukrainian-held portion of Donetsk region — a condition Kyiv continues to reject, and Ushakov reiterated Moscow has 'no aggressive plans regarding Europe.' No ceasefire was agreed. Zelensky, reacting afterward, said 'it is very important to do everything so that this war ends.'